Didier Drogba has confirmed he is interested in returning to Chelsea this summer if manager Jose Mourinho makes him an offer.

Drogba is taking on his former club for the first time tomorrow night when he lines up for Galatasaray in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.

The Ivory Coast international is out of contract at the end of the season and as Standard Sport revealed last week, is already being targeted by Major League Soccer clubs New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders.

But Mourinho is considering whether to bring the 35-year-old back to Stamford Bridge next season, primarily to work as a coach to the strikers, although he could get some playing time too.

Drogba, who scored the decisive penalty kick in a shoot-out against Bayern Munich to win the Champions League for the Blues two years ago, is also the club’s fourth highest-ever scorer on 157 goals.

Asked if he would be interested in a return to English football next term, he told the Daily Mail: “If, and I say if, by any chance it could happen, it would only be with one team.

“My contract ends this summer and then I will decide what is the best solution for me. But I had a great time at Chelsea and if Jose was saying, “Didier, I want you to come back”, I would think about it.

Didier Drogba's greatest Chelsea moments

Didier Drogba's greatest Chelsea moments

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First goal v Crystal Palace, August 2004

Didier Drogba’s first goal in a Chelsea shirt against Crystal Palace in 2004 served as an introduction to the Blues fans who would grow to love him. And it was a typical Drogba strike – a cross from the left wing saw the Ivorian rise above two defenders to power a header into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

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League Cup final v Liverpool, February 2005

Drogba’s 107th minute strike was significant not only because it helped Jose Mourinho to win his first trophy as Chelsea manager, but also because it began a long tradition of Drogba scoring in big games. His goal, which levelled the game at 2-2, was followed minutes later by a Mateja Kezman winner.

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Wonder goal v Everton, Dec 2006

It was a match-winner, and probably his best goal for Chelsea. With the game sat at 2-2 and the final whistle fast approaching, Hilario’s long ball up field was headed down to Drogba. He controlled it with his chest, swivelled, and then unleashed a 30-yard half volley past a helpless Tim Howard. Chelsea won the game 3-2.

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Record-breaking goal v Valencia, April 2007

By scoring in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Valencia in the Champions League quarter final, Drogba became the first Blues player in 22 years to reach 30 goals in a top-flight season since club legend Kerry Dixon. Drogba finished the season with 33 goals in all competitions.

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FA Cup final v Manchester United, May 2007

Another huge game saw another huge goal from the Chelsea striker. The first FA Cup final at the new Wembley wasn’t a classic, but it was Drogba who will be remembered for a flash of brilliance with only five minutes of extra time remaining. A clever one-two with Frank Lampard saw the Ivorian through on goal before poking over the onrushing Edwin van der Sar to score the winner.

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Tears after Jose Mourinho's departure, 2007

Jose Mourinho’s departure in 2007 was a shock to everyone, but it hit Didier Drogba especially hard. It was revealed in 2011 that he “wept like a child” when Mourinho announced he was leaving, and although a period of uncertainty surrounding Drogba’s future followed, his emotional outpouring was indicative of the love he felt for the club, especially under Mourinho.

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Hat-trick for the Golden Boot v Wigan, May 2010

On the final day of the 2009/10 season, Chelsea needed a win over lowly Wigan to secure the Premier League title, and they did so emphatically. Drogba played a starring role, scoring a hat-trick as part of an 8-0 victory and capturing the Golden Boot in the process.

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Champions League semi-final first leg v Barcelona, April 2012

When Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona came to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of the 2012 Champions League semi-final, many were predicting Chelsea’s demise. And although it was the Blues’ defence – aided by a sizeable slice of luck – who predominantly proved the doubters wrong, Drogba was immense in attack, too. He battled to hold the ball up whenever it was needed and, most importantly, scored the goal that gave Chelsea a vital lead to take into the second leg.

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FA Cup final v Liverpool, May 2012

Didier Drogba was in four FA Cup finals with Chelsea, and he scored in each of them. His last came in the 2012 final against Liverpool, finishing past Pepe Reina after latching onto a Frank Lampard pass. The goal put Chelsea two goals up and despite a Liverpool fightback, Roberto Di Matteo’s side held on to setting up the possibility of a remarkable cup double.

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2012 Champions League final - The first goal

And on the 19 May in the Champions League final in Munich, that cup double was completed. But it was far from plain sailing – Chelsea were under siege for large parts of the game before they finally had their defences broken by a Thomas Muller header. Chelsea looked down and out before, in the 88th minute, a Juan Mata corner was met by the head of Didier Drogba, firing the ball past Manuel Neuer and sending the final into extra time.

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2012 Champions League final - The penalty

Five minutes into extra time and it seemed as if Drogba’s heroics had been immediately undone. His clumsy challenge on Arjen Robben in the box led to a penalty for Bayern. Incredibly, it was saved by Petr Cech, and Chelsea held on until the game finally went to penalties. With three spot kicks scored by each side, it was up to Drogba to score the winner. And, with remarkable coolness considering the rollercoaster 120 minutes he had just experienced, he fired home. It was his greatest moment in a Chelsea shirt, and almost definitely the greatest in the club’s history.

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Voted greatest Chelsea player of all time, October 2012

Drogba left Chelsea in the summer of 2012, leaving an indelible mark on most of the club’s supporters – so much so that in October of that year, the striker was voted as Chelsea’s greatest player of all time by fans, ahead of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Gianfranco Zola and others.

“People know how much I love the club and the fans. I will still be happy to score because I also want to qualify for the next round. But you have to show respect.”

Chelsea have been handed a major boost ahead of the tie with David Luiz (groin), Oscar (ankle) and John Obi Mikel (leg) all considered fit enough to travel to Istanbul.

The trio will undergo fitness tests in training today to determine whether they are able to feature against the Turkish champions.

January signings Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are not available as they are cup-tied, but Drogba admits Galatasaray already face a tough task to beat the Premier League leaders.

He added: “Of course (they are favourites). We would prefer to play the second leg here, at home. We need to try to score as many goals as we can in the first game.

“It’s nice to play against your old team but when you are emotional like me it’s going to be difficult. But I have to be professional and respect the shirt I am wearing.

“I hope it will be better than when I played for Chelsea at (another former club) Marseille. I was bad! It was different though then because we had already qualified (from group stages 2010-11). I just went to enjoy it. This time we have to qualify.”